RT-AC3100

Bummer to hear. I haven't run into any of those issues with the RT-AX58U and RT-AC3100.

I was looking into upgrading our WiFi. Our house is 3400 square feet and two stories on a 1/3 acre lot. We currently have one router upstairs where our Ethernet cabinet is. The router we currently use is an ASUS RT-AC3100 router we got in 2015. It is a Wifi5 Dual-Band router. It works great and the range on it is good for what it is, but it’s 10 years old and we want just a bit more coverage. However, WiFi in our detached garage and at the back of our backyard is spotty. I was thinking one of two things to extend our WiFi. I don’t really want to go Ubiquity route. I was thinking more of a mesh system. Option 1. Buy an ASUS RT-BE96U 19000, connect it to my modem upstairs to use as my main router, and put my old AC-3100 downstairs and use it in AP mode via an Ethernet jack that connects to the switch upstairs at the modem and router. The BE96U is a Wifi7 Tri-Band system. Which means the AC-3100 AP would be a Wifi5 Dual-Band system I believe. Option 2: Get rid of the 2015 ASUS router, install TP-Link Deco BE1000 (from Costco) 3 pack Mesh WiFi system. This is a Wifi7 Tri-Band system. Any opinions would be appreciated.

As far as three separate SSIDS, which routers will allow me to do that, and how? And is there a specific reason you say “discreetly?” On my ASUS router, I have my main network which combines 2.5 and 5, and to get separate networks, I had to create a 2.4 on guest network, a 5 on a guest network, and just a guest network that is for guests, for a total of 4 SSIDs. I didn’t know how to or am unable to make separate SSIDs as a main network, if that makes sense.

I definitely was going to hardwire (obviously) an Ethernet cable from modem to router. Then I have a Cat5 cable from router to switch. I have switch going to several rooms. I can definitely put one of the APs downstairs on a Cat5 from the switch. The third AP (if I go with TP link, might be WiFi as the place I put it in might not have a wall jack.

Bro get the first one. It is made in 2025 ,wifi 7 , Aimesh and sometimes is on sale for 169$. Dont listen to the others their best routers are 700$ or they are 10 years old. I just looked and thats why i bought the first one couple months ago. Btw i paired it with the Asus AC3100. So my whole house its fast and reliable.